Adobe InDesign Core Design Principles 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A designer wants a headline to draw immediate attention above body copy. Which technique best achieves this?
- Increasing size and weight relative to body text (Correct answer)
- Matching the body text size exactly
- Using the same color as the background
- Reducing the leading to zero
Correct answer: Increasing size and weight relative to body text
A larger, bolder headline creates contrast that pulls the eye first.
Question 2: Which principle helps a reader perceive scattered dots as forming a single shape?
- Closure (Correct answer)
- Proximity
- Alignment
- Contrast
Correct answer: Closure
Closure is the tendency to mentally complete incomplete shapes.
Question 3: Balance in a layout where elements are evenly mirrored on both sides is called:
- Symmetrical balance (Correct answer)
- Asymmetrical balance
- Radial chaos
- Negative balance
Correct answer: Symmetrical balance
Symmetrical balance mirrors elements equally around a central axis.
Question 4: Why might a designer choose an asymmetrical layout over a symmetrical one?
- To create dynamic visual interest and tension (Correct answer)
- To guarantee identical margins
- To reduce file size
- To prevent any focal point
Correct answer: To create dynamic visual interest and tension
Asymmetrical balance creates energy and interest while still feeling balanced through weight distribution.
Question 5: The rule of thirds suggests placing key elements:
- Along gridlines or intersections dividing the page into thirds (Correct answer)
- Exactly in the dead center always
- Only in the corners
- Randomly for variety
Correct answer: Along gridlines or intersections dividing the page into thirds
The rule of thirds positions focal points at intersections of a 3x3 grid for natural appeal.
Question 6: Which Gestalt principle causes items sharing the same color or shape to be perceived as a group?
- Similarity (Correct answer)
- Proximity
- Closure
- Continuity
Correct answer: Similarity
Similarity groups elements that share visual characteristics like color or shape.
Question 7: What is the main risk of using too many typefaces in a single layout?
- It undermines unity and looks disorganized (Correct answer)
- It improves readability automatically
- It reduces the page count
- It increases color accuracy
Correct answer: It undermines unity and looks disorganized
Too many typefaces break consistency and weaken the sense of unity.
A designer wants a headline to draw immediate attention above body copy.
Which technique best achieves this?